Centrowitz's win in Olympic 1,500 1st for US since 1908

by PAT GRAHAM, AP Sports Writer

United States' Matthew Centrowitz, left, celebrates as he is congratulated by New Zealand's Nicholas Willis after winning the men's 1500-meter final during the athletics competition at the Summer Olympics at Olympic stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Saturday, Aug. 20, 2016. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

Centrowitz surprised himself as he took the lead in a leisurely paced race with around two laps remaining. He only got stronger with the finish line in sight. It was the first title in the event for the United States since Mel Sheppard won the "metric mile" more than 100 years ago at the 1908 London Games.

"I'm a confident guy," Centrowitz explained. "But I don't know if I was this confident.

"I thought, on the best day, maybe I'd get a silver medal. But sure, in the back of my head, I thought I could get a gold."

He was motivated by a good-luck email from running great Jim Ryun, a silver medalist in the 1,500 in 1968. He was spurred on by a rock-solid race plan — a couple of them depending on what transpired. And he was in awe of the person handing out the gifts at the medal ceremony — Sebastian Coe, the president of the IAAF and a middle-distance running icon.

Seeing dad and the rest of his family was a big highlight.

Distance running just so happens to run in the Centrowitz family. His father represented the United States at the 1976 Montreal Games. His sister, Lauren, competed in college for Stanford.

Then there's Matthew — the confident runner who always believed he was going to be the next big thing in the 1,500.

"I have a lot of respect for everyone in that field," said Centrowitz, who finished fourth at the 2012 London Games, missing out on a medal by 0.04 seconds. "I never took anything for granted."

After crossing the line, Centrowitz looked straight ahead, stunned at what he had just done. He then dropped to his knees and put his hands on top of his head.

It was that unbelievable.

His dad took in the entire scene from the stands. These two are tight, so much so that the son has that tattoo across his chest that reads, "Like father, like son."

Matt couldn't find the right words when asked about what his son's win meant to him, responding in a text message, "Wow, impossible to say."

Matthew Centrowitz went to the University of Oregon, home of the late Steve Prefontaine — the training partner of his father before Pre's death in a car accident at the age of 24.

The 26-year-old Centrowitz grew up hearing all the stories. He even hung posters on his wall of Prefontaine, the charismatic and talented runner who finished fourth in the 5,000 meters at the 1972 Munich Olympics.

"It's great to make history," Centrowitz said. "I've been joking since I've gotten this medal, that I don't have to do anything for the rest of my career now and it's not a complete failure."

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